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Tessa DeMaster

Growing up on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, I never would have pictured the life I live at Willow Haven farm. As a kid I spent summers in our large family garden we called, “The Truck Patch”. I helped mom every summer, picking beans, weeding, and cutting fruit and vegetables for the hundreds of jars of canned and frozen produce we put up. Now I spends less time out in the field and more time in the kitchen doing the same preserving for my own farm family. Farmer Reuben values my many hours doing much of the behind the scenes marketing, writing emails to cultivate customers and capturing the farm story each week. I'm always learning along the way in my quest to improve the farm experience for each of her current and future farm members in our 500+ member, year-round customized farm box delivery program. Reading our stories will connect you with your food in a way you never experienced before. Someday soon you will want to fit local food into your life and we'll be here to help you.

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Keep your family healthy
Featured Post

SHOCKING even for farmers...

Hi Reader, Even my jaw dropped. Did I forget or was this info SO SHOCKING that it's hard to believe? The head farmer at Rodale spoke at a Health Symposium for medical professionals in July. Reuben and I were the only other farmer attendees. When talking about food and health to the doctors, nurses, and students, he chose to make sure they knew that organic food is the only way to eat for health and sustainability. Over 70 crops are sprayed directly with glyphosate, most immediately before...

9 days ago • 1 min read
Erik's workshop on Fermenting

Hi Reader! Are you curious about the health benefits of fermentation but unsure where to begin? Do you find yourself fascinated by the idea of making your own kraut, pickles, kimchi, or kombucha but feel overwhelmed by the process? If you've ever wondered how to transform simple ingredients into delicious, probiotic-rich foods that nourish your body, you're not alone. Many people are intrigued by fermentation but are held back by the fear of the unknown or concerns about safety. But what if...

14 days ago • 3 min read
Josh Parr Organic Gardening Workshop

Hi Reader! Is your home garden a success this year? Did you plant too many seeds? Frustrated by weeds, bugs, or disease? If your goal was to save money on groceries, you might be wondering if your garden was worth the time and effort. Are you questioning what didn’t work and how you can improve your garden next year? Growing even one thing is something to be proud of. It connects you to a valuable human experience and is worth celebrating. Wouldn’t it be even better if your garden truly...

15 days ago • 3 min read
Afternoon workshop with Vince to learn canning

Hi Reader! Letting overwhelm keep you from canning your own food is costing you money and freedom. Here's why you haven’t learned to can food for your family yet. You have too many questions that are holding you back. Do you know what it’s costing you? Beyond the savings you'll realize in your grocery budget, the real benefit is peace of mind knowing you have emergency food and/or convenient food for a busy day. Plus, you know where your canned food came from and what exactly is in that jar...

16 days ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader, My Grandma Miles lived in this house when I was a girl. She cooked more meals here than I have.Collected more eggs. Drove more tractors. Lead more Bible Studies. Growing up in town, she became the farm wife who canned the peaches and made the apple butter that everyone loved! But one day she got tired of waiting for her busy farmer husband to keep a promise. "I'll get to it!" he insisted. Grandma Miles was resourceful and resilient. You need some of her skills in your life. Don't...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader, You know it's true. Can you walk away from your phone for a minute, hour, or day? Can you make your clothing? from leather, wool or flax? No? Maybe you are a slave to convenience, like me. You'll want to be part of our Round Table Discussion on Friday, August 9. What is Tessa talking about now?! ON Farm MarketWe Are Open! Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Local Tomatoes and Watermelon! Click over to my blog to: Push Back Against Impersonal Corporations: Explore how we can resist the lure of...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Field crew farming for you!

Hi Reader, Another Farm Boy is leaving. This time it's for a long time. What lesson's has he learned? Is he prepared? But most important... How does his mom feel? The story continues We Are Open! Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Local Peaches and Berries! Click over to my blog for: How we balance farm and family life with nine kids? Send your own message to the Farm Boy before he leaves. The story continues We'll keep farming for you! Reuben and Tessa DeMasterWillow Haven Farm P. S. PSST! 2nd Annual...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader, Grimacing with pain and walking slowly, Farmer Reuben entered the kitchen. "I didn’t do anything hard this morning." Moving empty market boxes and twisting and lifting was all it took to strain Reuben’s back and send him to the house to rest. The story continues... We Are Open! Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Vince's Special Stone Ground Organic flour baked into BRICK OVEN BAGELS** Pastured Pork Sampler only 99.00 ** Click over to my blog for: My heart warming moment at the Member...

2 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader, "Your pigs are out!" When our neighbor's daughter shouted through our screen door, I didn't even jump. Chasing animals back home is what our kids grow up doing. The animals only want one thing too. To go home! The story continues... We Are Open! Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Vince's Special Stone Ground Organic flour baked into Honey Wheat, French CountryMaple Pecan Scones ** Pastured Pork Sampler only 99.00 ** Wellness Class on July 20 Continue reading for more: Electric Fence...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader, Imagine you are 6 years old. What's the first thing you want to do when you get out of bed in the morning? Keep thinking. At 7 am I emerged from my room to a silent house. This is not normal. I called my kid's names. No response. I checked all the rooms and all the beds. No one. Were they outside in the yard? The swings hung still and the slide was empty. The story continues... We Are Open! Saturday: 9 AM - 3:00 PM Vince's Special Stone Ground Organic flour baked into Sourdough...

3 months ago • 1 min read